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Entry: "Under the Black Flag" Link: http://www.takimag.com/blogs/article/under_the_black_flag#12836 Post contents: As always, "Taki's Top Drawer" provokes recurse to the encyclopedia (OK, here, the Wikipedia). Quoting from the article on "Red Flag": From as early as the 15th century the red flag was known as the "flag of defiance" [1]. It was raised in cities and castles under siege to indicate that there would be "no surrender" [2] [3]. It is known that from about 1300, Norman ships would fly red streamers to indicate that they would "give no quarter" (take no prisoners) in battle. This usage persisted into the 17th century, when the flag was adopted by Buccaneers, who were pirates of French origin operating in the West Indies. Buccaneers would initially hoist the Jolly Roger to intimidate their foes. If the victims chose to fight rather than submit to being boarded, the pirates would then raise the red flag to indicate that once the ship had been captured, no man would be spared.[2] Closer to home for us Texians, it is generally known that the flag that Santa Anna hoisted to signal "no quarter" at the Alamo was a red flag. Sent at: 2008 07 24